Our Patients’ Only Access to Care: Why High-Quality Nursing Matters in Corrections
Heather Fether, RN
Director of Jail Operations at NaphCare
“For healthcare professionals that work in corrections, we are motivated by the fact that we are often our patients’ only access to health care. Many of us are passionate about what we do, which is why we stay diligent, even in challenging circumstances. For us, it’s about providing exceptional care in a challenging environment.”
I have a passion for correctional health because I see the patient needs and I see the need for high-quality nurses in corrections to meet those needs.
Our medical staff face difficulties in providing care that providers in other settings may not. Our patients can have acute mental health challenges which can result in safety concerns for the patient that create barriers to receiving care. The patients also often have health conditions they don’t know about prior to incarceration.
As an administrator, I am keenly aware that we are in need of quality nurses to ensure we have enough team members to support our patients. Every day, we work hard to get positions filled and shifts filled. With a full complement of staff, we can focus not just on getting through the day – but instead working towards long-term goals for each facility and across the system that allow us to improve care.